The following remarks were made by by Governor Franklyn E. Richards, at the National Day of Prayer, conducted in Philipsburg: 

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It's wonderful to be among so many fellow citizens -fellow citizens who share goodwill and faith in God and who draw strength from prayer!

I commend our Government, the various churches and other prayer groups involved for demonstrating such a positive and potentially inspirational vision to bring this National Day of Prayer to realization.

This evening, for the second consecutive year, we remember as a people and as government to pray for the entire community of St. Maarten.

Let's take this opportunity, as we have entered into the New Year, to ask God to guide us with His wisdom, for His help and strength, as we plan and execute our resolutions, and that He leads us in a manner that pleases Him and is best for St. Maarten.

We pray that he shows us how to conduct ourselves towards one another and how best to keep the people of St. Maarten united and steadfast, and as a nation full of good will and fortune.

Prayer should be offered, as we have so much to be grateful for, asking God, to continue to bless St. Maarten, to spare us from the wrath of disasters, to quell the uncertainties facing us and to comfort and console those who are experiencing times of grief and sadness.

Let's pray that we all as community leaders will always be mindful of the essential qualities necessary to provide good leadership and that we will be servant leaders who serve people with integrity, sound morals, norms and values.

Let's ask the Lord that he relieves the challenges and obstacles that cause delays, and impart to government the ability to make well balanced structured environmental, social, financial and economic decisions for our entire community, and to inspire and motivate our people as a whole in building our nation, that of country St. Maarten.

Let's ask him to bless our families as we balance our responsibilities between home and public office.

In closing, on this National Day Of Prayer, let's all ask the almighty God to watch over our nation, and give us faith, patience and resolve in all that is to come, as only He knows what the future holds. May he always guide and bless us.

The following statement was given by the Chairman of the Main  Voting Bureau, Governor Franklyn Richards, at a press briefing held on January 24, 2006:

As we know, we are only days away from elections for members of the parliament of the Netherlands Antilles, which will take place on Friday, January 27, 2006, from 8 o'clock in the morning to 7 o'clock in the evening.
Here on St. Maarten, the Executive Council has designated 14 polling districts and respective polling stations, at which voters may cast their ballots.
Allow me today to mention the number of persons eligible to cast votes at the respective polling stations:
Polling station John Larmonie Center for Dance, Music and Art - 1759
Polling stations Sundial school and House of Detention House of detention - 1897
Polling station Genevieve de Weever school - 1495
Polling station Sister Marie Laurence school - 1450
Polling station Martin Luther King School - 1134
Polling station Milton Peters College - 1457
Polling station St. Peters Hillside school - 1339
Polling station St. Maarten Academy - 1420
Polling station Celebration Palace - 886
Polling station Raoul Illidge Sports Complex - 883

Polling station Charles Leopold Bell School - 1385
Polling station Leonard Conner school - 1231
Polling station Simpson Bay Sports Community Center - 586
Polling station Belvedere Community Center - 1113.

The total number of persons eligible to cast votes in Friday's elections is 18036, as per today, January 24, 2006.
Of these, only 9171 are persons born in the Netherlands Antilles, which also comprises those born on St. Maarten.
This would mean that a substantial number of persons eligible to cast votes - totaling 8864 or 49.15 percent of eligible voters -- are now persons born elsewhere than St. Maarten or the Netherlands Antilles.

Persons eligible to cast votes on St. Maarten, in the upcoming elections, were born in 105 different countries.
Large groups of voters who were born in another country are, for instance, those born in:
Dominican Republic - 1369
France - 1172
Holland - 1083
St. Kitts- Nevis - 1026
Dominica - 710
Anguilla - 553
Haiti - 474
Suriname - 332
U.S.A. - 268
India - 265
Jamaica- 118

Looking at voters per polling district, per country of birth, the following can be mentioned:
In some districts, the total combined number of voters born outside of the island territories of the Netherlands Antilles outnumbers those that are born in the Netherlands Antilles.

Specifically, let's look at the situation locally, here on St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, where it concerns voters born on St. Maarten:
District 1, John Larmonie Center - 478
District 2, Sundial School - 441
District 3, Genevieve de Weever School - 464
District 4, Sister Marie Laurence School - 376
District 5, Martin Luther King School - 289
District 6, Milton Peters College - 446
District 7, St. Peters Hillside School - 448
District 8, St. Maarten Academy - 394
District 9, Celebration Palace - 240
District 10, Raoul Illidge Sports complex - 168
District 11, Charles Leopold Bell School - 345
District 12, Leonard Conner School - 277
District 13, Simpson Bay Sports Community Center - 144
District 14, Belvedere Community Center - 273

So, of the total amount of 18036 eligible voters, only 4783 persons or 26,5 percent of the eligible voters were actually born on St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles.

What is important is that persons exercise their democratic rights and cast their votes.
An overview of the results of all elections held on St. Maarten, between 1971 and present have shown a decline in voters' turnout for parliamentary elections.
In the last held parliamentary elections of January 18, 2002, only 49.7 percent of eligible voters went to the polls. As a result, votes needed for a parliamentary seat was calculated at 2.698, at the last held parliamentary elections.

Allow me, then to use this occasion, to call on all eligible voters to come out on Friday and cast their votes, as together, we determine the future course of St. Maarten, at this most important time in our history, when we are actually pursuing a new status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

In accordance with articles 38 and 39 of the Dutch-Antillean Voters Regulation (Publication Sheet 1989, No. 78, as amended), every employer is obliged to provide his or her employee, who is eligible to vote on Friday, January 27, 2006, at least four (4) consecutive hours off from work, between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., in order for that employee to cast his or her vote. This obligation does not exist if the employee has four (4) consecutive hours off from work, within the hours in which he or she can cast his or her vote.

Allow me, once more, to advise all persons eligible to vote in the upcoming elections, to carefully look at their voting cards, before election day, and to acquaint themselves with the polling station in their respective district, at which they will be expected to cast their votes.

Voters should walk along with a valid ID and their voting card when going to the polls.
 
Article 134 of the penal code of the Netherlands Antilles states: "he who intentionally impersonates another person, and participates in a legally prescribed election, is punished with a prison term of a maximum of one (1) year".

The general public is also asked to take note of article 131 of aforementioned penal code, which states: ‘He who, during a legally prescribed election, obstructs a person from casting his vote, freely and unhindered, is punished with a prison term of a maximum of one (1) year".  

With regards to public meetings being conducted, the final day on which public meetings may be held is on Wednesday, January 25.

Last but not least, I ask that the general public and businesses respect the announced regulations on the prohibition of the sale of alcoholic beverage, just prior to, during and just after the elections.

For clarity sake, this is applicable throughout the Netherlands Antilles, thus not only for island territory of St. Maarten.

Government cannot legislate or obstruct one from consuming alcoholic beverages; but this is a regulation, which provides us with an opportunity to safeguard an environment, wherein all eligible voters may, in a quiet and sober manner, cast their votes, after a period of reflection and meditation. As is also usually, the case, some party supporters would be in a more jubilant mood, on election night, once election results are in favor of their respective party. So, in the interest of maintaining law and order and safeguarding security for the general public, it is also deemed prudent not to provide opportunities for the sale of alcoholic beverage, during that time as well.